Research into the paleogeographical evolution of Malia's plain began again in 2015, with new studies in the marsh bordering the site of the Minoan city: 11 sediment cores were taken (from a depth of 4 to 8 metres) under the guidance of Laurent Lespez (UPEC-UMR 8591 CNRS) and Maia Pomadère (Université Paris 1-ArScAn), with the collaboration of Jean-François Berger (CNRS-UMR 5600, Lyon) and Arthur Glais (Université de Caen).

These cores are currently the subject of multi-parameter analyses and radiocarbon dating, which will enable researchers to determine how the marsh evolved from the Neolithic period until today.

Several preliminary observations have, however, already been formulated: the marshy sequences present in the sediment cores confirm that Malia’s marsh was from the middle Neolithic period (6th millennium) a low marsh supplied by freshwater streams. The precise study of sedimentary facies should provide the keys to understanding the impact of unusual hydro-climatic or tectonic events, such as storm flooding, as suggested by a clear change in the rhythm of sedimentation like that which occurred in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC.

These preliminary results still need to be refined and/or confirmed by the results of sedimentological, geochemical or pollen analyses currently in progress.

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Trapeza Aigiou. Andreas Vordos (ΣΤ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on further investigation of the Late Archaic temple in the centre of the archaeological site of Trapeza (Fig. 1). In the area of the cella were the stones of the euthynteria of the interior columns which stood along the northern and southern sides. Parts of the floors of three isles were also uncovered, while in the axis of the cella...